Guidelines in New Jersey

Voter Registration Requirements

You need to be a resident of the state and county in which you'd like to vote for at least 30 days before the election.

You can't be serving a sentence or on parole or probation, as a result of a conviction of an indictable offense under state or federal law.

If you're a first-time voter who registers by mail, you're required to submit proof of identification either at the time of registration or when you vote. You can include a copy of your identification with your registration form today! Acceptable forms of ID include: a current utility bill, bank statement, valid photo ID, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.

Don't forget -- your state may have additional ID requirements when you go to the polls.

If you have additional questions about voting in New Jersey, please contact:

Division of Elections: (609)-292-3760; njelections@sos.state.nj.us

Registration Deadline

Postmarked by: 21 days before Election Day.

Felony Information

Under New Jersey law, if you have been convicted of what is known as an "indictable offense" (commonly known as a felony), you may register and vote when you have completed your sentence (including any probation and parole). For more information, visit the New Jersey Division of Elections' website or call them at 609-292-3760.

Information for Students

You must be a resident of the state in which you register and vote. If you're a student from New Jersey who attends school in another state, you may need to determine whether you're a New Jersey resident or a resident of the state where you attend school. The important thing to keep in mind is that you may only cast your vote in one state.

Here's what New Jersey says about residency: In New Jersey, your residence is the same as your domicile in the context of the voter registration laws. Your domicile is the place where you are physically present, and that you intend to call home. The New Jersey Supreme Court has expressly protected the right of students attending college in New Jersey to vote there if they choose. So long as you actually live there, are interested in and are concerned with your college community, and assert in good faith your intention to vote there and no place else, you may register and vote where you go to school.

If you determine you're a New Jersey resident, but will not be present in this state or will be away from your home district on Election Day, be sure to check the absentee ballot application requirements and deadlines. In addition, New Jersey residents who attend school in-state, but in a different election district, may be eligible to register and vote in the election district where they live while attending school.

To determine whether you're a resident of a different state where you attend school, be sure to check that state's residency requirements.

Identification Information

If a voter is registered to vote by mail in their county and never voted in a federal election in the county, the voter is required to provide his or her county commissioner of registration with ID. If the voter did not provide identification to the county commissioner of registration or if the identification information could not be verified, the voter must show ID at the polling place.

These include ONE of the following:

Any current and valid Photo ID: driver's license, student or job ID, military or other government ID, store membership ID, or U.S. passport; or

Bank statement; or

Car registration; or

Government check or document; or

Non-photo driver's license; or

Rent receipt; or

Sample ballot; or

Utility bill; or

Any other official document

If the voter does not have ID, the voter will be allowed to vote by provisional ballot and will have until the close of business on the second day after the election to provide identification to the applicable county election office.

Same Day Registration

No

Early Voting Information

If you can't make it to the polls on Election Day or you would prefer to vote before Election Day, you can vote early by mail, and no excuse is required.
You can vote by mail in any election beginning 40 days before Election Day.
The deadline to request your ballot by mail is 7 days before the election, and by 3:00 p.m. on the day before Election Day if you request it in person.
Your absentee ballot needs to be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, whether returned by mail or in person.